Detachable meter device



July 25, 1933. R. sHERwooD DETACHABLE METER DEVICE Filed Dec. 9. 1932 UZLI L eww Sham/'00m JyCQoy i 772mm/ 0g.,

Patented July 25, 1933 "-,UNITEI STATES miassz rfa-rer] rares LEXVS R. SHEEXVOOD, F DETROIT, MIGHIGAN, ASSIG-NOR TO LYON METAL PRODUCTS,

INCORPORATED, OF AURORA, ILLINGIS, COREORATIQN ILLINOIS DETACHABLE DEVICE Application Vfiled December 9, 1932. Serial No.' 646,591.

This invention relates to a meter device and particularly to a detach able sales meter which may be applied toJ a label holder on shelves, trays and other lilre articles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a detachable sales metering device for shelves, trays and other similar articles whereby the metering device is slidably posiV tioned in conventional label holder so that an inventory may be kept of all the articles remainingV on the shelf or some record may be had of the number of articles removed from the shelf.

Another object is to provide a metering C device having a rearinember which is slidably mounted in a substantially channelshaped label holder, which has a pivotally mounted registering element, and'which has a front face pivotally connected to the rear member and to the register member, the front face cooperating with the label holder to prevent rotary movementv thereof, and which is provided with' operating lingers to revolve the registering device.

A still further object is to provide a. sales metering device slidingly or otherwise re@ movably supported to a label holder or other similar element to register the quantities supported'by or removed from a shelf or other article, which is provided with a flat or straight portion which, when brought into flush position with the bottom of the drawer, will register a number in regular sequence by the manipulation of a projecting finger, the Enger projecting when the straight portion is flush with the bottom of the device or the shelf.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specification. i

The accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view'showing the device arranged in a shelf label holder with the indicator wheel movable in one direction.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showingthe indicator wh-eel operable in a reverse direction.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the device. arranged on the upstanding flange of a. shelf.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the device arranged on the upstanding flange in a reverse direction. f

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation showing the device arranged on a shelf.

Fig. 6 isa detail sectional view through the device arranged in a label holder on a shelf l'.

on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, 6 designates a shelf having a flat supporting surface 7 and an integral turned flange 8.

A label holder 9 is securely fastened to the flange S and' comprises a substantially chan nel-shaped member having a baclr IO and upper and lower downwardly Vand upwardly bent ends 11 and ,12 respectively, thev ends 11` and 12 `forming upper and lower grooves 13 and'lll respectively. The label holder 9 is preferably elongated ext-ending substantially throughout the entire length of the shelf and is preferably made of a width equal to the width or depth of the flange 8. The flange 8 may extend downwardly from the surface 7 of the shelf to provideV a substantiallyflush top as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or the flange Vmay extend upwardly as shown in Figs. B-and 4to provide a rimy or support to preventarticles on the shelf from being accidentally removed or knockedk oft" of the shelf. The free Yedge of the flange may be turned vover as indicated at 15.

The particular construct-ion of the shelf does not constitute part of the present invention except in combination including means for slidingly supporting the .sales metering device16.

The sales meteringdevice. 16 comprises a rear member or back 17 which lits in the `label holder and issubstantially as wide as the distance betweenv the grooves 13 vand 14 and is so arranged in the grooves sov as to be freely slidingly received in the label holder 9. The ends of the backingj17`-may be rounded as indicated at 18 to allow for free slidablefmovementof the metering device in the grooves 'of the 'label holder. 1 'An indicatingwheel or register19 is arranged for- `of a shelf Vas set forth in Fig. 3 but operable 551" wardly of the back and rearwardly of the front face 20. The three members, the back 17, the front face 2O and the centrally positioned wheel or register 19,. are pivotally fastened together by pivot 'means 21 which, in the present instance, comprises an eyelet.

kThe registering device or wheel 19 is provided with consecutively circumferentially spaced numerals 22 which are brought into position so as to be seen through an opening 23 formed in the front face 20. This registering device or wheel 19 is cut away as indicated at 24 to provide straight sides 25 and lingers 26, the fingers 26 providing means for operating the wheel `or register 19, while the straight sides provide means for rotating the wheel or register a predetermined distance so that the numerals 22 will always properly be brought into position relative tothe opening 23 as the fingers 26 cannot be pushed further than the lower straight edge 27 of the front face 20.

The metering device 16 is arranged in position in the label holder 9 by inserting the complete member 17 within the label holder 27 so that its upper` and lower edges will be received in the grooves13 and 14. The upper edge of the front face is inserted inthe upper groove 13 behind the projection or ledge 11 so as to prevent rotation of the -front face when the lingers 26 are moved to operate the member`19. Consequently, the upper edge of the intermediate member or registering medium19 will also have its upper edge arranged in the groove 13. The manner in which the sales metering device is positioned in the grooves and supported by the label holder is clearly shown in Fig. 6.

Thilo this latter figure shows the flange 8 as extending downwardly from the shelf support- 7, the position of the label holder will be exactly the same even though the fiange S extends upwardly as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. As previously mentioned, the particular position of the flange relative to the shelf support is of no moment as far as the label holder is concerned just so adequate means are provided on the shelf jfor supporting any kind of a label holder which will adequately and slidingly support the device.

Operation When the device is supported in position in the label holder in themanner shown in F ig. 6, a numeral 22 may be brought in position relative to the opening 23 by the manipulation of a linger 26. The fingers 26 are so positioned relative to the numerals so that when the fingers 26 are moved a certain limited orrestricte'ddistance, a-proper numeral will be inV position so that it may be seen through the opening 23. By engaging a finger 26, such as by engaging it with the thumb as shown in dotted lines, and then moving the thumb to the position indicated in full lines, a straight edge 25 on the dial or registering device 19 willr be flush with the bottom edge 27 of the front face 20. Therefore, itl is impossible to move a finger 26 beyond predetermined limits. The next number 22 will not be brought into position relative to the opening 23 until another vfinger 26 is moved. The movement of the fingers 26 is limited o r restricted when the straight edge 25 of the registering device 19 is flush or even with the lower surface 27 of the outer face member 20. When a finger 26 is moved so that the edge 25 is flush with the edge 27, another finger 26 is brought in position. When the fingers are moved, the edge of the thumb will engage the edge 28 of the finger which is coincident with the side 25. Therefore, the registering device 19 can only be rotated a predetermineddistance, which distance is governed by the edge 28 of the linger being moved as far as possible vhich will be to the edge 27 of the front ace.

The device is particularly applicable for inventory purposes to designate either the number of articles left on the shelf or to designate the number of articles removed from the shelf. The operation of the present device shows that by operating a finger 26, a higher consecutive number will be brought into view. Thus, every time anarticle on the shelf is removed, a finger is operated to move the registering wheel accordingly. In the drawing, the numeral 3 is disclosed through the opening which means that three articles have been removed. Thus, if it is known how many articles were on the she-lf originally, and thedeviee operated whenever articles were removed from the shelf which,

in the present case indica-tes 3, it is lknown that three articles have been removed and the difference remain. However, the reverse is also true. By relocating the numerals, a lower successive numeral may be brought into position. Thus, if there were originally five articles on the shelf and a finger 26 lwas operated every time an article was taken off, the result, or numeral 3, would indicate that only three articles remain on the shelf. Therefore a complete inventory is had at all times. Only five numerals have been shown on the registering wheel 19, but more numerals may be added depending upon the size of the articles supported by the shelf and the number of articles supported. to say, instead of having the wheel indicate from naught to five, the wheel may carry numerals running from one consecutively on up.' Moreover, the same device may be made to operatecounter-clockwise as well as inthe clockwise direction herein shown'. However, it is advantageous that the device operate in one direction only. Tf the device were free to operate in both directions, an error would be likely to result.

That is To prevent errors caused by moving the device in one direction 'the first time and then moving it in` an opposite direcf tion the next time, the device is provided with means to prevent it from operating in both directions. This Vmeans comprises a tail-V pieceQQ -which may be attached to a lower outerY edge of the front face 20. This tailpiece QQiprevents the rotation ofthe registering wheel 19 from moving in a reverse di# rect-ion. It is true that 'the finger 26 could be manipulated a certain distance in a reverse direction, butV this distance would be limited by the edge 30 of the tail-piece 29 and would not be of a distance sufficient to bring the next numeral in view through the opening '23. Furthermore, the construction herein disclosed, which construction includes the straight edges 25 and 27,'prevents errors as the operator always `knows that the edges 25 and QVC/must be in flush position, and this flush position is the natural result of moving the finger 26 because the thumb of the operator will Vcome to rest against thev surface 27. That is to say, normal operation of the registering dial 19 bv the inanipulation of the thumb with aingergQG is limited or made positive due to the fact that the thumb cannot move the finger beyond theV straight edge 27.

lnactual practice it has'been found that a very economical and readily seen device may be made by making tl'ie members 17, 19, and 20 from thin white Celluloid, fastening the same together by the metal ring or eyelet 21 with. the numerals printed in black on the intermediate member 19. However, the parts may be made of other material such as stamped metal, balelite, r from any other composition or material which is capable of being successfully used in a device of this character.

The invention provides a salesA metering de vice removably and slidingly positioned in the label holder of a shelf so tliattlie number of articles remaining upon or removed from the shelf may be readily ascertainable at all times. The sales metering device is maintained and removably supported by the label holder so that while the registering or indicating wheel or dial moves freely, the outer front face will not rotate and the entire device will be rigidly and properlysiipported in the grooves in the label holder. The registering device is eihcient in operation, and may be readily and economically manufactured.

Changes may be made in the forni, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing` from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following' claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. The combination with a shelf label holder, of a sales metering device engageable with the holder and comprising a rear member supported by the holder, a rotary element carried by the rear member, and a front member in front of the rotary element andfas#V tened to the rear member.

2. The combination with aV shelf label holder, of a. sales metering device Aengageable with the holder and comprising a rear inember removably and slidably supported by the holder, a front member pivoted. to the reai member and having a part thereof vengage-V able with the holder, and a. third member arranged'between the said two members 'and pivoted thereto. c' Y 3. The combination witha label holder, of a. sales metering'device engageable with the holder and comprising a rear member supported by the holder, a rotaryelement carried by the rear member, a front member infront ofthe rotaryelementV and fastened to the rear member,and fingers carried by the rotary memberl and successivelyadapted to extend below the bottom of the front meinber to operate the rotary member during rotation thereof, said fingers when extending below the said bottom lying outwardly of the holder.- I

4. The combination with a label'holder having upper and lower grooves, a sales me` tering device carried by theholder and comprising a rear vmember arranged in the grooves and supported by theholder, a front member spaced from the rear member and having a side engageable with one of said grooves, and a rotary member between the front and rear members and pivotally connected thereto, said rotary member having fingers for rotating the rotary member, the fingers projecting below the bottom of the device during operation of the rotary member, said lingers when projecting below said device being outside of the groove.

5. The combination with a label holder having upper and lower grooves, a sales metering device carried by the holder and comprising a rear member arranged in the grooves and supported by the holder, a front member spaced from the rear member and having a side engageable with one of said grooves, a third member arranged between the front and rear members, and means passing throughfsaid three members and pivotally connecting the saine together, said third member having its lower end arranged outside of the holder and face ofthe groove.

6. The combination with a label holder having upper and lower grooves, a salesmetering device carried by the holder and comprising a rear member arranged'` in fthe grooves and supported by the holder, a front vmember spaced from the rear member land having a side engageable with one of said grooves, a third member arranged between the front and rear members, means passing through said three members and pivotally connecting the same together, and means on the third member and adapted to extend beyond an edge of the front member for operating the third member, said means being free of the lower groove.

.7. The combination with a label holder having upper and lower grooves, a sales metering device carried by the holder and comprising a rear member arranged in the upper and lower grooves and supported byv the holder, a` front member spaced from the rear member, a third member arrangedl between thefront and rear members, means passing through said three members and pivotally connecting the same together, said front and third members having their upper edges arranged in the upper groove and their lower edges arranged outside of the holder and free of the lower groove, means on the third member and extending beyond an edge of the front member :toroperating the third member, and a tail-piece on an end of the front member adjacent the last named means.

8. A registering device comprising a rear member, an intermediate member, a front member, said three members being pivotally connected together, said intermediate member having spaced numerals, said front mem-v ber having an opening throughr which a numeral may be seen, lingers on the intermediate member and adapted to be brought successively to operable position beyond an edge of the front member, and a tail-piece on the front vmember arranged to be adjacent a finger.

9.' The combination of a holder, a metering device removably supported by the holder and comprising an indicator member, a supporting member to which the indicator member is pivoted, and a front member fastened to the supporting member.

10. The combination of a holder, a metering device removably supported by the holder and comprising a supporting member carried and supported by theholder, an indicating member, a front member, connecting means passing through the three members and pivotally connecting the three members together, means for rotating the indicating member, said front member having a part thereof engaging the holder to prevent rotation thereof during operation of the indicating member.

l1. The combination with a label holder havingfupper and lower grooves, a metering device carried by the holder and comprising a supporting member movably arranged'in the grooves and' supported by the holder, and an indicator member pivoted to the supporting member, said indicator member having means thereon extending beyond an edge of the supporting member to permit manual operation of the indicator member.v

Lewis R. sHERwooD. 

